Petersburg Pilot -

State of Alaska weighing options for conducting elections

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The state of Alaska is exploring options for conducting elections after 2018, as it is faced with an aging voting system and financial pressures amid an ongoing state budget deficit.

A bipartisan working group established by Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott is examining the issue.

Josie Bahnke, director of the state Division of Elections, said one option that has gotten attention is a hybrid system would include allowing for early, in-person voting and voting by mail.

But she said discussions are preliminary and more research must be done to see if this approach would work in...